Buying car insurance is a sometimes complicated process, and it sucks to mess with it.
Fortunately, this quick and dirty guide will help you to get in the know when it comes to getting car insurance quotes.

1. Make sure you know what kinds of insurance and how much insurance your state requires.
   You don't want to go through this process and end up with insurance that isn't up to snuff.
   They'll still ticket you, even in your ignorance.
   
2. Do an evaluation of how much insurance you really need.
   Most insurers have a standard recommended limit.
   Generally, the average person's insurance needs are somewhere in between that and the state minimum.
   You'll have to decide on your own where that line lies for you.
   And here's a quick hint: when you're trying to decide between a higher deductible and a lower premium or a lower deductible and a higher premium, you can save yourself a few dimes by raising your deductible a little bit, because the corresponding drop in premium pricing will save you more money in the long run (just don't get into a lot of accidents).
   
3. Shop discounts.
   Most insurers offer all kinds of discounts.
   In fact, there are so many, that it might make sense to talk to a few insurance agents, since they've got a lot more experience sorting through the gigantic pile of discounts to find ones that work for you.
   
4. Pile on the perks.
   You'll find that most insurers will add on extra perks like towing or roadside assistance.
   Figure them into your total.
   They might make deciding between two worthy companies a little bit easier.
   
5. Don't get a shady insurer.
   Listen, you don't want to get saddled with a cut-rate car insurance company that treats its customers like crap and can't pay its bills.
   Check out a site that has auto insurance ratings and customer reviews to get a feel for which companies are legit.
   
6. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
   Get quotes from a bunch of insurers.
   There are sites that will help you get plenty of auto insurance quotes from lots of insurers with one easy form.
   Also, it's a good idea to talk to an agent or two.
   You'd think the overhead from having to support a brick-and-mortar establishment would make going with an agent more expensive.
   You'd be wrong.
   Some agents can actually get you a better deal and more discounts.
   It's still a good idea to get preliminary quotes online, though, so you have a benchmark to start from.
   
7. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples with your quotes.
   If the deductible and coverage limits aren't the same, then it's pointless to compare pricing, because you're really looking at two different products.
   Only compare identical quotes or you're wasting your time.
   
8. Read the fine print.
   Most car insurance companies won't try to pull a fast one on you, but it's still a good idea to know what you're getting roped into.
   Plus, it can never hurt to know what your contractual rights are.
   

Anyways, that's the list.
Do these things, and you'll end up with a great deal on your auto insurance.
And don't forget to keep checking your options with other insurers, even after you've decided on one.
You never know when another insurer will offer you a better deal.
Safe driving!